Press Releases

Governor Crist Applauds Stimulus Funding for Wastewater, Stormwater and Drinking Water Facilities

by Governor's Press Office

Posted on May 22, 2009

Governor Crist Applauds Stimulus Funding for Wastewater,
Stormwater and Drinking Water Facilities

--Federal funding to protect environment, stimulate economy--

 www.FlaRecovery.com

 TALLAHASSEE – Governor Charlie Crist today applauded the award by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of $88 million to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).  This new infusion of money brings to more than $212 million the total amount provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) to help local governments finance improvements to wastewater, stormwater and drinking water facilities essential to protecting public health and the environment across the state.

“With this loan funding, we will continue our strong commitment to putting Floridians back to work while improving our water infrastructure,” said Governor Crist. “Together with Florida’s other economic development efforts, the federal recovery dollars provide needed capital for local government projects to break ground quickly and build essential facilities for their citizens.”

Governor Crist also congratulated the 33 Florida communities approved last week to receive these funds under the DEP’s Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan programs.  Added to ten communities approved earlier this year, there are now 48 projects in 43 Florida communities scheduled to receive ARRA money to help build critical drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure.

In public hearings held May 13 in Tallahassee, the new projects were added to DEP’s funding priority list based on their “shovel-readiness,” a requirement of the ARRA funding, and their environmental and public health benefits.  Project sponsors and DEP staff will now negotiate individual loan agreements tailored to each local government’s specific financial circumstances.

With the actions taken May 13, DEP has now committed $197 million of the $212 million in available ARRA funding, leaving $15 million in drinking water funds for applicants as they complete the planning, design and permitting necessary to demonstrate shovel-readiness.  Qualifying drinking water projects will be selected for the remaining ARRA funds, based on their readiness and priority, at a future public hearing.  DEP will also continue to work with all applicants to help them prepare for other program monies as they become available.

“In order to fuel Florida’s growth and protect its people and natural resources, it is essential that we invest in our wastewater, stormwater and drinking water infrastructure.   The stimulus funds advance our ongoing efforts to get infrastructure funding in the hands of local communities,” said DEP Secretary Michael W. Sole.  “We had a tremendous demand for this ARRA funding, which will soon go to help build valuable public projects.”

DEP received more than $800 million in requests for the $80 million of ARRA drinking water project funds and more than $1.5 billion in requests competing for $132.3 million in ARRA wastewater and stormwater funding.

Drinking water projects from the following communities were approved for funding on May 13 and will now enter into formal loan agreement negotiations with DEP: Carrabelle, Casselberry, Century, Cocoa, Dania Beach, Deland, Fairpoint Regional Utility System (Santa Rosa County), Highland Beach, Hollywood, Lake Worth, Longboat Key, Marianna, Miami-Dade, North Lauderdale, North Miami Beach, Oldsmar, Palm Bay, Plantation, Sanford, Tampa, Tavares, Vero Beach and Wauchula.  Seventeen of these communities meet the criteria for being financially disadvantaged and qualify for loans under which a portion of the loan principal will be forgiven (in effect, partial grants).  The breakout of these projects can be viewed in table format by clicking on this link:  http://www.dep.state.fl.us/secretary/news/2009/05/files/dwsrf.pdf.

Wastewater and stormwater projects from the following communities were approved for funding on May 13 and will now enter into loan negotiations with DEP:  Bonifay, Bradenton, Brooksville, Clewiston, Graceville, Hollywood, Lee, Live Oak, North Miami Beach, Oakland Park, Pahokee, Sanford, South Bay, St. Augustine Beach and Vero Beach.  Nine of these communities meet the criteria for being financially disadvantaged and qualify for partial loan forgiveness.  Ten projects, including six disadvantaged communities, previously qualified for ARRA money:  Alachua, Apalachicola, Columbia County, Dunellon, East County Water Control District (Lee County), Grand Ridge, Marathon, Monticello, Sanford and Sopchoppy.  The breakout of these projects can be viewed in table format by clicking on this link:  http://www.dep.state.fl.us/secretary/news/2009/05/files/cwsrf.pdf.

DEP established its SRF programs, under agreements with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, to provide low-interest financing to plan, design and build wastewater, stormwater and drinking water systems.  Funded by federal capitalization grants, state matching funds, loan repayments, interest earnings, and periodic bond issues, SRF loans are offered at interest rates substantially below current market rates and help make loans affordable.  Repayments from earlier loans are used to make new loans, allowing the program to operate in perpetuity.

Since 1999, DEP has invested more than $3.5 billion to upgrade and improve drinking water and wastewater facilities and clean up stormwater pollution, funding close to 2,100 projects statewide.  More than $2.6 billion of this amount has come from the SRF programs.

For more information on the State Revolving Funds, visit http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/wff/.  For more information about Florida’s use of the federal recovery dollars made available through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, please visit www.FlaRecovery.com.

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